Herefordshire 1700-1820

THOMAS BANTON & sons THOMAS & PHILIP of City of Hereford, tanners - 1664

I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. There were three people with the surname of BANTON - Thomas Banton & sons Thomas & Philip. Thomas Banton jnr was the older son.

If you have any information about the Banton family in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

THOMAS BANTON snr - 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for City of Hereford - Widemarsh Ward - 1 chargeable hearth

THOMAS BANTON, jnr - Widemarsh Ward - 3 chargeable hearths

PHILLIPP BANTON - Eign Ward - 2 chargeable hearths

A variant spelling of the surname of BANTON was BAMPTON.

Thomas Banton snr & his sons were in the tanning business.

The Banton family of the City of Hereford probably had its origins in the parish of Little Birch. The estate of Thomas Banton snr included land at Little Birch. At a future time, I will search for the last Will & Testament of John Bampton of Little Birch, husbandman, proved in 1640. John Bampton was probably the father of (or close relative of) Thomas Banton snr of the City of Hereford.

Although the proof of it has not been found, Thomas Banton snr was almost certainly a Freeman of the City of Hereford. His elder son (under the name of Thomas Bampton jnr) was admitted & sworn a Freeman on 10 February 1661/2. As he was admitted for wine & thanks & as he was a bachelor at that time, the only reasonable conclusion is that he was admitted as the eldest son of a Freeman. The younger son (under the name of Philip Bampton) was admitted a Freeman during the Mayoralty of William Edwins (elected 1663).

The records show that Thomas jnr & Philip (variously named as Banton & Bampton) were active members of the Company of Tanners - holding, at various times, the offices of Master & Warden. Undoubtedly, Thomas snr had also been active in the Company of Tanners; however, I have not found the records pre-dating 1659.

From various records, it seems that the Banton family lived without Widemarsh Gate but within the parish of All Saints. It is only to be expected that a family in the tanning business would live beyond the City Walls.

The marital status of Thomas Banton snr at 1664 has not been discovered. In fact, his wife's name has not yet been discovered. At the time of making his Will (19 December 1669, proved at the Deanery 30 July 1670), he must have been a widower as there was no mention of his wife.

 Although a bachelor at Ladyday 1664, Thomas Banton jnr was soon to become a married man. His marriage entry has not been found; however, a record of the Marriage Licence has been found. On 20 April 1664, a Licence was issued by the Deanery for the intended marriage of Thomas Banton jnr of All Saints & Sible Vincley, spinster, of the City of Hereford. Numerous children of theirs were baptised at All Saints. Thomas Banton, tanner, was buried on 3 November 1707 -  All  Saints Parish Register.

In 1664, Philip Baton was still a bachelor. On 5 May 1667, he married Alice Bowen at Breinton. By his Will (dated 2# November 1698, proved at Deanery 9 August 1699), Phillipp Banton of the City of Hereford, tanner, bequeathed his dwelling house, tanhouse, gardens & his goods to his wife Alice for the term of her natural life - thereafter his estate was to be divided amongst his three (unnamed) daughters. Philip Banton was buried on 23 November 1698 - All Saints Parish Register.

In 1664, Thomas Banton snr had at least 2 daughters - they being mentioned in his Will. By 1669, daughter Mary had become a married woman - her surname being Davies. In 1669, his younger daughter Martha was still a spinster. Rather curiously, Thomas Banton snr bequeathed, to his daughter Martha, all of his leather & the tools of his trade.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog. If you have any information about the Banton family of the City of Hereford in the 1600s (or of any family who lived in the City of Hereford in the 1600s), I would be pleased to hear from you.

Jean Dobson

MASON FAMILIES in City of Hereford - 1664

I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. Three people with the surname of MASON were assessed for the tax; however, I have not discovered whether there was a relationship between any of them.

If you have any information about the MASON families in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

~~ MASON, widow - Ladyday 1664 Hearth Tax Assessments for the City of Hereford - Widemarsh Ward - 1 hearth, not chargeable.

BENJAMIN MASON - Ad huc Wyebridge Ward - (void house), not chargeable

PETER MASON - Bysters Ward - 1 hearth (void house), not chargeable.

At present, the information about the Mason families in the City of Hereford in 1664 is confusing.

Was the WIDOW MASON one & the same person as MARY MASON, widow of THOMAS MASON?

Some time during the Mayoralty of James Lawrence (elected 1661), Thomas Mason petitioned the Mayor, Magistrates & Common Council of the City of Hereford for a hospital room - there being one oid at St. Giles Hospital. In his petition, he described himself as of the Parish of All Saints, aged near 100 years, born & bred within the City. His labour was spent - he had been taken with imbecility of age - his sight had altogether failed him - he was charged with a poor aged wife - they were unable to raise any money to pay rent or gain relief. This Thomas Mason was not born in poverty - he, so he said, being the son of a Vicar belonging to the Cathedral Church of Hereford. As Thomas Mason probably exaggerated his age, it seems more likely than not that he was born about 1570 rather than 1560. In the 1560s & 1570s, there were several clergymen with the surname of Mason in the City of Hereford - including three Vicars Choral - Richard Mason, Thomas Mason, & Bartholomew Mason. Perhaps, one of these men was the father of Thomas Mason, the petitioner.

Thomas Mason died before 27 September 1663 on whih date the Mayor (Thomas Holmes) ordered that 5s. be paid towards the funeral of Thomas Mason - the Overseers of the Poor of St. John the Baptist being ordered to pay 2s. 6d. & the Overseers of All Saints 2s. 6d. In the order, it was mentioned that a difference had arisen between the two parishes concerning which parish Thomas Mason was in.

During the Mayoralty of William Edwins (elected 1663), MARY MASON (80 years of age), widow of Thomas Mason, petitioned for the arrears of allowance due to her deceased husband. The arrears amounted to 44s. which had accumulated at the rate of 6d. weekly. She also petitioned for the money due to her for his funeral - 5s. As neither parish had obtained the previous order to pay her for the funeral expences, she had to pawn some of her goods to raise the money to bury him.

At present, all that I can say is that the widow Mason of Widemarsh Ward with 1 hearth, not chargeable, might have been Mary Mason, widow of Thomas Mason.

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The BENJAMIN MASON with a void house near Wyebridge Ward might have been the Parliamentary man who lived in the City of Hereford during the Commonwealth Years. As the house was void in 1664, it seems that he had moved elsewhere - but was still the owner or occupier of the house.

I do not know whether Benjamin Mason was a local man or someone who came to Hereford to make his fortunte during troubled times.

Another possibility is that Benjamin Mason was one & the same person as Benjamin Mason, Esq.,, who owned lands in Pixley & Upleadon - as recorded in the 1663 Herefordshire Militia Assessments.

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PETER MASON of the void house in Bysters Ward may have departed from the City of Hereford - but was still the occupier of the house. Peter Mason is known to have been living in the City of Hereford in 1661. At a Tourn held on 17 October 1661, the jury for Bysters Ward presented several people for entertaining inmates in their houses contrary to the statute. The fear, of course, was that poor inmates would become a charge on the parish. Because the presentment dealt with two landlords, it is not entirely clear whether Peter Mason & family were tenants of Mrs. Anne Garnons, widow, or Philip Winston, gent. It was also mentioned in this presentment that Peter Mason did once sell ale but whether licensed or not the Jury knew not.

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Although only three persons with the surname of MASON were assessed at Ladyday 1664, there were other persons with the surname who may have been inhabitants of the City of Hereford in 1664.

It is likely that JOHN MASON & Isabel his wife were living in the City of Hereford in 1664 - but presumably they were living in the household of someone else. John Mason & Isabel Lawrence were married at St. John the Baptist on 1 May 1662. On 8 October 1666, Isabel, wife of John Mason, corvisor, was a witness to an assault at the pub of James Tudor of City of Hereford, saddler. On 6 March 1671/2, Francis, son of John Mason & Isabel his wife, was baptised at St. John the Baptist.

HENRY MASON was a Freeman of the City of Hereford - having been admitted & sworn during the Mayoralty of Thomas Davies (elected 1660). As he was living in the city of Hereford in the latter part of1664, he had probably been living there in the early part of the year. It was at the Tourn held on 13 October 1664 that the Jury for Eign Ward presented Henry Mason for not going to divine worship to hear the Common Prayer read in his Parish Church. Henry Mason may have been a bachelor in 1664. At a Lawday held in May 1666, Henry Mason, corvisor, & his wife (unnamed) were presented for a similar offence. Henry Mason was buried on 14 Mrch 1681/2 - All Saints parish register.

Although a Deanery Marriage Licence was issued on 2 October 1661 for the marriage of JAMES MASON of St. Peters to Penelope Philpott, I have found no further information about this couple.

If you have any information about the MASON families of the City of Hereford in the 1600s (or any other family who lived in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

Jean Dobson

JOHN SPRATT of City of Hereford, clergyman - 1664

I have been researching the lives of the men & women who inhabited the City of Hereford in 1664 - one such person being a clergyman named JOHN SPRATT (possibly also known as JOHN SPROTT). He was one of the Vicars Choral of the Cathedral Church of Hereford.

If you have any information about the Spratt family of the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

Very little has been discovered about John Spratt.

John Spratt's educational qualifications have not been discovered - his name not appearing in either the Oxford Alumni or the Cambridge Alumni.

John Spratt & Beatrice Paule were married at the parish of Goodrich on 24 May 1652. A son, also named John Spratt, was born to this couple. As his age at death in 1729 was recorded as 72 years, he was probably born about the year 1657. Another child of this couple was Sarah - who was baptised at Goodrich on 19 June 1665. As there is no reason to suppose that the family were living in Goodrich in 1665, I suppose that the couple had a personal attachment to the parish of Goodrich & wanted their daughter to be baptised in that Parish Church.

Does anyone know anything about the whereabouts of John Spratt, wife & family between 1652 & 1660? Those years, of course, were difficult ones for many clergymen - they being part of the Commonwealth Years when many clergymen were unacceptable to the government.

On 3 October 1661, the Dean & Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Hereford, with the Custos & the major part of the Vicars Choral, did perpetuate Mr. John Spratt. The probationary period was usually 12 months. So it is more likely than not that John Spratt had been admitted to the College of Vicars, as a probationer, about September 1660.

He is known to have been an inhabitant of the City of Hereford in the early 1660s, including 1664 - the name of John Spratt of City of Hereford, clerk or one of the College of Vicars, appearing on several Marriage Licence documents. As his name does not appear in the Ladyday 1664 Hearth Tax Assessments for the City of Hereford, it is reasonable to assume that he did not have a house in his own name in 1664. He & his wife were probably living in an apartment in the College - the College having 43 chargeable hearths.

Although I haven't seen the proof of it myself, Rev. William Cooke in the 19th century recorded that John Spratt obtained the Vicarage of Woolhope from the Dean & Chapter in 1665. A Marriage Licence Bond dated 13 December 1665 is the earliest surviving one in which John Spratt described himself as of Woolhope, clericus. However, this description is not proof that he was living at Woolhope. As a Vicar Choral he had duties to perform in the Cathedral Church of Hereford & may well have continued to live there rather than in a Vicarage House at Woolhope.

Rev. William Cooke in the 19th century stated that a tablet at Woolhope Parish Church recorded that John Spratt died on 28 February 1682/2. Letters of Administration of the Estate of John Spratt were granted to # on 21 February 1683/4. According to Rev. Cooke, Beatrice Spratt died in 1681.

By the way, I have no reason to suspect that John Spratt was a Freeman of the City of Hereford. Very few clergymen bothered to become Freemen.

If you have any information about the Spratt family of the City of Hereford in the 1600s (or of any family who lived in the City of Hereford in the 1600s), I would love to hear from you.

Jean Dobson

THOMAS HEWLINGS of City of Hereford & his cozen RICHARD HEWLINGS

Can anyone identify THOMAS HEWLINGS of the City of Hereford, carrier - died 1663? Or his cozen RICHARD HEWLINGS - died 1698?

The spelling of their surname is problematic. Known variant spellings include HUELINGS, HUGHLINGS & HULINGS. As no signature of theirs has been discovered, I do not know how they thought their surname should be spelt. Although the spelling of Hewlings was used in the last Will & Testament of Thomas Hewlings, he merely placed his mark upon the document.

The problem of their surname is exacerbated by its similarity to a common surname in the City of Hereford - variously spelt as HALLINGS, HAULINGS or HAWLINGS. In fact, there is good reason to suspect that HOLLINGS was another variant spelling of Hallings.

I don't think that THOMAS HEWLINGS belong to the Hallings family of the City of Hereford because there is much to suggest that he was a recent arrival in the City. Furthermore, the relatives mentioned in his Will had surnames which were either unknown or uncommon in the City.

Thomas seems to have been living in the City in early 1662. At the General Sessions for the City held on 14 April 1662, Thomas Hulins was presented for having much timber in the highway it being a hindrance to carriages in Raughter Lane.

Thomas Huline was admitted & sworn a Freeman of the City of Hereford some time during the Mayoralty of Thomas Holmes (elected 1662). Thomas was obviously admitted as a foreigner - he paying £10 for the privilege.

When Thomas died in 1663, less than a year after admission as a Freeman, he had a substantial estate - including the King's Head in Broad Street & the Tennis Court in the same street. He had horses, mares & geldings stationed at Hereford in Herefordshire & at Ludlow in Shropshire.

His wife's name was Anne. But what was her surname? The surname of Nash is a possibility - as Thomas Hewlings described Richard Nash as his brother-in-law. It is almost certain that Anne was the daughter of a deceased carrier - as her husband Thomas bequeathed to her all the horses, mares & geldings which had been her father's.

It is also almost certain that Thomas & Anne had recently married. In his Will, he divided the horses, mares & geldings in those which he had before marriage to her & those which she had before marriage to him. There was no mention of horses, mares & geldings which he had acquired since their marriage.

The marriage seems to have been childless at the time of his making his Will - there being no mention of children born to them. However, he did make a specific bequest in the event that she was then carrying his child.

After Anne Hewlings proved her husband's Will at Hereford on 7 September 1663, she seems to have disappeared. As a young widow with a handsome fortune she may have married against very quickly. There is just one possible sighting of her. At the Lawday held on 26 October 1663, the Grand Jury presented a woman whose name was either Ann Haghllings or Ann Hughllings for laying timber & poles so as to barring the highway  in a lane commonly called Rughall Lane (probably a variant spelling of Raughter Lane which was also known as Wroughtall Lane).

To his cozen RICHARD HEWLINGS, Thomas Hewlings had bequeathed all of his horses, mares & gelding (except those at Ludlow) that were his own before he married Anne. It is likely that Richard arrived in Hereford about the time of his cozen's death - with a view to collect his legacy & to set up business, probably as a carrier. As Richard was not a Freeman of the City of Hereford at that time, he soon attracted the attention of those men who were accustomed to presenting wrong-doers. At a Lawday held on 2 May 1664, Richard Huelins was presented for exercising his trade whilst not being a Freeman. Richard Huelins must have intended to remain in the City & must have wanted to continue his trade. Some time after 2 May 1664 but before the end of the Mayoralty of William Edwins (i.e. before the first Monday after Michaelmas 1664), Richard Huglins was admitted & sworn a Freeman. Although I have not discovered any other details about his admission, it is more likely than not that he was admitted as a foreigner.

Although Anne Hewlings, the widow of Thomas Hewlings, seems to have disappeared before the end of 1663, Richard Hewlings certainly remained in the City of Hereford - being presented for various infringements from time to time. His wife's name may have been Maudlin. At a Lawday held on 15 May 1671, Maudlin, the wife of Richard Hul~ (page damaged) was presented for not attending her parish church to hear divine service for the last month. An entry in the Parish Register for All Saints records that Richard Hulings was buried on 28 November 1698.

In spite of Richard Hewlings being in the City of Hereford in 1664 & 1665, there is no entry for anyone of the surname of Hewlings or known variant spelling in the Ladyday 1664 & Michaelmas 1665 Hearth Tax Assessments.

I would particularly like to know who had the King's Head at the time of the Ladyday 1664 Hearth Tax Assessments. By his Will, Thomas Hewlings had made bequests to people with the surnames of COLUMBINE, HEWLINGS, LOCKRING?, NASH & WALKLEY. None of those surnames appear in the list of assessments for the City of Hereford.

I hope that some one who reads this blog has some information which will contribute to a better understanding of the Hewlings family who lived in the City of Hereford in the latter part of the 1600s.

Jean Dobson

JAMES WILCOX & JOHN WILCOX - City of Hereford - 1664

I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. Only two persons with the surname of WILCOX were assessed for the tax.

If you have any information about the Wilcox / Wilcocks families in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

JAMES WILCOX - 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for City of Hereford - Ad huc Wyebridge Ward - 1 hearth, not chargeable.

JOHN WILCOX (mistakenly written in the Assessments as JOHN WILLCOTTS) - 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for City of Hereford - Ad huc Wyebridge Ward - void house, not chargeable

It is obvious from the Parish Registers for the City of Hereford that the surname of Wilcox was established in the City, especially in the parish of St. Martin's, from at least the 1560s. Wyebridge Ward included the parish of St. Martin's.

Unfortunately, I have discovered so few records relating to the Wilcox families that I can not properly identify the two men who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. It is particularly curious that no man with the surname of Wilcox seems to have been a Freeman of the City of Hereford in 1664. Thirty years later, Richard Wilcox (whoever he might have been), a tailor, was admitted & sworn a Freeman on 12 November 1695.

There are two small bits of information to suggest that James Wilcox of 1664 might have been the father of John Wilcox of 1664. In a document relating to the Assessment for the Relief of the Poor of the Parish of St. Martins in 1666, it is recorded that John Wilcox was behind in his payments, in the amount of 4s., "because he maintains his father a house". In the same document, it is recorded that James Wilcox, one the poor of the parish, received 5d. weekly as his pay. Although there is a baptismal entry for a John, son of James Wilcox, in the Parish Register for St. Martin's, it seems too early to be the one which I want. On 28 February 1603/4, John, the son of James Wilcox & Sibil his wife, was baptised at St. Martin's.

John Wilcox of 1664 might have been the man of that name whose Will was proved at Hereford on 23 February 1685/6. By his Will (dated 25 January 1685/6), John Wilcox of St. Martin's bequeathed his estate of his wife Mary for her natural life. After her death, about half the estate was to pass to their elder son Thomas Wilcox & the other half to their younger son Richard Wilcox. Perhaps, this was the Richard Wilcox who became a Freeman in 1695. I have noticed that there is a baptism at St. Martin's of John, son of John Wilcox & Mary his wife, on 7 April 1671. I am wondering whether this John Wilcox is that man who made his Will on 25 January 1685/6 - presumably the baby John dying beforehis father. As I said, I have so little information on the Wilcox families that I cannot properly identify any of them.

If you have any information about the Wilcox families (or any other family) of the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

Jean Dobson

MARY COOPER of City of Hereford - 1664

I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth tax at Ladyday 1664. MARY COOPER was one of only two people with the surname of Cooper who was assessed for the tax.

If you have any information about the Cooper families in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

MARY COOPER, widow - 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for City of Hereford - Eign Ward - 4 chargeable hearths.

In 1664, Mary Cooper was the widow of the late John Cooper of the parish of All Saints, stationer. She was also the mother of their only child John Cooper.

John Cooper senior had died some time after 23 December 1651 (the date of his Will) but before 14 April 1652 (the date his Will was proved at London). His substantial estate included not only lands but also his shop with its books, paper, parchment, & other wares. As the widow of a Guild Merchant (who had almost certainly been a Freeman of the City of Hereford), she was entitled to continue his business as a stationer - and so she did.

Their son John had been apprenticed to his father by an Indenture dated 26 January 1650/1. After the death of John Cooper senior, young John continued his apprenticeship with his mother. Rather curiously, it was not until 2 November 1663 that Mary Cooper, widow, went before the Company of Haberdashers &c (which included Stationers) to acknowledge the service of her son as per his indenture. On that day, being a Quarter Day of the Company, he was duly admitted & sowrn a member of the Company. Why was his admission delayed so long? Where had he been for several years? What had he been doing?

John Cooper had been admitted & sworn a Freeman of the City of Hereford during the Mayoralty of Thomas Davies (elected 1660). From various records, it can be seen that he was in the City of Hereford in 1661, 1662, 1663 & 1664. According to the City's Charter, he needed to be both a Freeman of the City & a member of the Company of Haberdashers &c to be in the business of a stationer. Therefore, he was not entitled to be in the business as a stationer untl after his admission to the Company on 2 November 1663. Perhaps, it was at this time that his mother handed over the business to him.

John Cooper was not assessed for either the Ladyday 1664 or the Michaelmas 1665 Hearth Tax. So, he was probably living in his mother's house.

John Cooper & Elinor Jenkins were married at St. John the Baptist on 21 January 1669/1670. Unfortunately, it was not to be a long marriage. John Cooped died some time after 6 June 1671 (date of his Will) but before 25 August 1671 (date his Will was proved at Hereford). In his Will, John Cooper fully identified himself - by naming his mother (Mary Cooper), his father (John Cooper) & his grandfather (William Cooper). His young widow, Elinor Cooper, inherited a substantial estate - including the White Lyon whih was then in the possession of Thomas Pearce, innholder.

Rather curiously, Letters of Administration were taken out on the estate of Mary Cooper of All Saints on 14 June 1671 - 8 days after her son John Cooper made his Will. Did Mary & her son die at much the same time? Perhaps of the same illness?

What became of the young widow Elinor Cooper? The answer to this questions has not been discovered. However, given the size of the estate which she inherited, she would need to have been a very determined young woman to remain a widow - in the face of determined efforts of suitors to win her hand & her fortune.

A tantalizing bit of information appears in Webb's book on the Civil War in Herefordshire. It raises the possibility that John Cooper, senior, might have been a Parliamentary supporter. In his book, John Webb included a list which he had taken from Allen's Collections for Herefordshire - which list enumerated the names of those who, having attached themselves to the Presbyterians or Independents, were appointed for various purposes by the parliamentary forces between the years 1643 & 1653. The list contains 15 persons for the City of Hereford - including Mr. Cooper. As Cooper was such an uncommon surname in the City of Hereford, Mr. Cooper might have been John Cooper, senior.

I hope that you have enjoyed reading this blog.

If you have any information about the Cooper families of the City of Hereford in the 1600s (or any other family) I would love to hear from you.

Jean Dobson

HOSEA BEAST / BEST of City of Hereford - 1664

I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. The only person with the surname of Best or Beast was Ozea Best. By the way, his name was more commonly spelt as Hosea Beast.

If you have any information about the Best or Beast family in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

OZEA BEST (otherwise known as HOSEA BEAST) - 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for the City of Hereford - Wyebridge Ward - 2 chargeable hearths; Ad huc Wyebridge Ward - 2 chargeable hearths.

From the Parish Register of St. John the Baptist & the Will (dated 17 August 1658, proved at London 11 Arpil 1660) of John Probin of the City of Hereford, glasier, we know more about the family of Hosea Beast than is usual for the mid-1600s.

The clergyman, who wrote the entries in the Parish Register of St. John the Baptist in 1637, recorded that Ozia Best and Elizabeth (surname omitted from the entry) were married on 13 August 1637 "though not by me". The baptisms of all three children of Hosea Beast & Elizabeth were entered into the Parish Register - John (24 June 1638), Jacob (2 May 1640) & Elizabeth (13 May 1642).

In his Will, John Probin did not say that Elizabeth, wife of Hosea Beast, was his daughter or other relative; however, he bequeathed everything (except £4) to this Elizaeth & her three children by her husand Hosea Beast - John, Jacob & Elizabeth. So Elizabeth, wife of Hosea Beast, was obviously very dear to John Probin - even if she was not his daughter.

John Probin, a glasier, bequeathed all of his lead & glass to John Beast & Jacob Beast - to be divided between them with John getting the best quality & Jacob the second best. Hosea Beast, the father of John & Jacob, was aso a glasier.

The Beast family were considerably enriched by the Will of John Probin. Specifically mentioned in the Will were a garden in the parish of St Nichols to Elizabeth snr, £40 to John, £20 to Jacob, & £50 & household goods to Elizabeth jnr. The residue (excpet £4) was bequeathed to Elizabeth snr.

The Beast family lived in Broad Street and, on Market days, Hosea often annoyed people by placing his pens so far into the street that they hindered people who were walking along it. Although he was often presented at Tourns & Lawdays for this offence, he continued to put his pens far into the street.

In spite of minor infringements such as placing his pens in the wrong place, or keeping swine in the city, or not repairing the causeway before his door, Hosea Beast played an active role int he life of the City of Hereford. He sometimes did his duty by sitting on Juries. He was a member of the Guild which included glasiers - occasionally being its Warden or Master.

I have traced the life of Hosea Beast to 15 May 1671 - on which day he was one of the Jurors of the Grand Inquest at a Lawday.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog & I would love to hear from you if you have any information about the Best / Beast families of the City of Hereford in the 1600s - or if you have any information at all about any families who lived in the City of Hereford in the 1600s.

Jean

Magdalene Newton (1664) of Hereford, daughter of Brian Newton

I have been researching the men & women of the City of Hereford who were assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664. Only one person had the surname of Newton - Magdalene Newton.

If you have any information about the Newton family in the City of Hereford in the 1600s, I would love to hear from you.

MAGDALENE NEWTON, spinster of "Ad huc Bysters Ward", 2 hearths, chargeable. 1664 Ladyday Hearth Tax Assessments for the City of Hereford.

Magdalene Newton was the spinster daughter of the late BRIAN NEWTON of the City of Hereford, armourer. Her mother's name was probably Jane. Jane Newton died before her husband - he dying in 1662.

In 1662, Magdalene had done handsomely from the estate of her late father - he bequeathing to her his four tenements (held in fee simple) in Broad Cabbedge Lane (now Church Street).

At the time of making his Will on 1 April 1662, Brian Newton had three tenants - Herbert Savacre, Thomas George & Walter Owens. Of these three tenants, only Herbert Savacre, gent, was assessed for Hearth Tax at Ladyday 1664 - he having 3 hearths. Although Walter Owens was not assessed, he is known to have been still living in Bysters Ward in 1664. The whereabouts of Thomas George has not been discovered.

Magdalene may have been a kind-hearted woman - she being presented on several occasions in the years 1663, 1664 & 1665 for allowing poor people, who might become chargeable upon the parish of St. John the Baptist, to dwell in her tenement.

No trace has yet been found of Magdalene after 1665. She may have married - a woman with four tenements held in fee simple being a very attractive marriage proposition, no matter what her age. She may have died. She may have sold her tenements & moved elsehwere.

From her father's Will (dated 1 April 1662, proved at PCC 9 April 1662), it is known that Magdalene had at least two brothers & three sisters.

brothers living in 1662: Brian Newton & Oliver Newton.

married sisters living in 1662: Beatrix Powell, Catherine Browne & Prudence Masters.

Although none of the baptisms for children of Brian Newton & Jane his wife have been discovered, four of their children were confirmed in the faith of the Church of England in September 1635 - presumablly all four having been born in the 1620s.

Children of Brian Newton & Jane his wife confirmed in September 1635 - information found in the Parish Register of St. John the Baptist, City of Hereford - Beatrix Newton, Oliver Newton, Prudence Newton & Katherine Newton.

Although he was an armourer, very little has been discovered about Brian Newton (the father of Magdalene).

Apparently, there is an inventory entered in the Great Black Book for the City of Hereford which enumerates the arms belonging to the City of Hereford & stored in the Tolsey; other weapons were kept in the gateways. An armourer named Bryan Newton entered into a bond to the amount of £40 that he would scour, repair, & safely keep, for the use of the Mayor & Citizens, weapons & armour stored in Eign Gate, for whih service he received a salary of 10 shillings per annum.

Until I see that entry for myself, I can not tell whether it refers to Brian Newton, father of Magdalene. It might refer to a previous Brian Newton. On 15 March 1609/1610, the Vicars Choral of the Cathedral Church of Hereford granted a lease of a house, shop &c in Cabbadge Lane (now Church Street) to Bryan Newton - for a term of three lives - the lives including Thomas Newton & James Newton, sons of Bryan Newton. The occupation of this Bryan Newton has not yet been discovered.

Given the similarity of names, it is possible that Bryan Newton of 1609/1610 was the father of Brian Newton who was the father of Magdalene.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog. If you have any information about this Newton family (or any other family who lived in the City of Hereford in the 1600s), I would love to hear from you.

Jean Dobson